Power converting mechanism



May 17, 1938. w. E. HENDRICKS I Re. 20,729

POWER CONVERTING MECHANISM Original Filed May 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet v1IN\ ENTOR.

315- 3- WILLIAM EHENDRIQKS BY [Bo-M X AW ATTORNEY.

May 17, 1938. w. E. HVENDRICKS -2 POWER CONVERTING MECHANI SM OriginalFiled May 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM EHENDRICKS I MM);4 .17%

ATTORNEY.

Reissued May 17, 1938 Re,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER CONVERTING MECHANISM William E.Hendricks, Denver, 0010.

Original No. 2,012,534, dated August 27, 1935, Se-

rial No. 725,624, May 14, 1934. Application for reissue August 16, 1937,Serial No. 159,397

Claims. (Cl. 280257) This invention relates to new and useful imlong assuch changes or modifications mark no provements in power convertingmechanism and material departure from the salient features of pertainsparticularly to mechanism for converting the invention as defined in theappended claims.

reciprocating motion to rotary motion. In the drawings:

5 Tests conducted in connection with the present Figure 1 is a viewillustrating one application 5 well known forms of mechanism forchanging of my invention, the same being shown in side oscillating orreciprocating motion to rotary, such elevation with and applied to a lowslung bicycle. as the crank and Wheel of the bicycle or the crank Figure2 is a horizontal sectional view, taken shank and pitman of an internalcombustion enon the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

gine, indicate the same to be decidedly inefiicient, Figure 3 is adetail sectional view, taken on the 10 due to the fact that the maximumapplication of line 3-3 of Figure 1. power is possible only during a fewdegrees of the Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view, showing the cycledescribed by the crank. connection of a push-pull rod with a sprocketThe primary object of the present invention is chain.

to provide a mechanism by which greater effi- Figure 5 is a verticalsectional view, taken on 15 ciency is developed in changingreciprocating to the line 5-5 of Figure rotary motion, by a newprinciple, the mecha- Figure 6 is a view showing the application of nismbeing particularly well adapted for employthe invention to a standardtype of bicycle. ing man power and obtaining the maximum of Figure 7 isa vertical sectional view, taken on no power therefrom. line T--! ofFigure 6.

A further object of my invention is to provide Referring now moreparticularly to the drawa novel mechanism designed to be operated by theings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate legs and to facilitatethe development of a high corresponding parts throughout the severalviews, degree of power thereby, thus making the mechone form of themechanism illustrating and for anism particularly desirable for use uponbicycles, carrying out the present invention is illustrated 25 and otherman power operated conveyances, such in Figure 1, as applied to a lowslung type of bias boats, airplanes, sewing machines and the like,cycle, while in Figure 6 is shown a form modified and the mechanism isalso applicable to power for application to the type of bicycle wherethe driven machines wherever efiicient transmission 1 rider sits abovethe driving mechanism.

of oscillating power to rotary power is desirable. These, it is to beunderstood, are merely illus- 30 A still further object of the inventionis to trations of two applications of the invention and providemechanism of the above described charare not to be considered as limittions to the acter, which, when used for the operation of a Sc p ofapplication Of t e Sa ebicycle, boat or similar conveyance where the legThe arrangement Of e e e ents of the depower of the rider is employedfor developing vice is preferred as illustrated in Figure 1, as in 35driving power, is adapted to carry the weight of hi r n m nt theoperator has his legs exthe legs which are substantially horizontallydistended before him or substantially horizontally posed, therebyenabling the operator to put into and he is not required to alternatelylift his legs the operation or driving of the mechanism, the in Workingthe device, and is therefore able to power which would be employed inraising the apply he ner y wh would h be q i 40 legs were the propellingmechanism, of the crank, in the working of the mechanism. pedal andratchet type commonly employed on The numeral l indicates generally theframe bicycles. of the bicycle, which is designed to carry the seatStill another object of the present invention 2 at a low elevation asshown, instead of above is to provide a power converting mechanism emthewheels 3 and 4, as in the usual form of the 45 ploying one or moreoscillatable levers adapted to machine. The steering shaft housing isindicated be actuated by a foot or by the feet, in which by the numeral5 and is controlled by the wheel 6. means are provided for selectivelyvarying the The mechanism embodying the invention comdegree of powerwhich may be developed. prises four wheels preferably in the form of theThe invention will be best understood from a sprockets i and 8 which, inthe application of 50 consideration of the following detaileddescription the invention to a bicycle of the type illustrated taken inconnection with the accompanying in Figure 1, are arranged two upon therear wheel drawings, with the understanding that the inaxle 5 and theother two forwardly thereof and vention is not to be confined to theshowing of upon the stub axle Ill, the front two sprockets l thesame,but may be changed or modified so being disposed so that the two chainsH which 55 connect the front and rear sprockets together aresubstantially horizontally disposed.

Each of the chains includes a special bearing link |2, to which ispivotally attached one end of an actuating or connecting rod l3. Thechains are adjusted upon their respective sides of the machine so as toplace the bearing links l2 at diametrically opposite points on theParallel endless paths which they travel.

At a convenient point on the steering control shaft housing 5, aremounted laterally directed aligned arms M, from each of which depends alever IS, the upper end of each lever carrying a bearing It in which thearm engages. An auxiliary brace lever extends upwardly from each leverl6 and oscillatably connects with the supporting arm M as shown, toprevent lateral sway in the lever as it is oscillated.

Adjacent the lower end of each lever I5 is connected the other or freeend of the rod l3, which is upon the same side of the bicycle and sincethe rods are so connected at their other ends to the chains that thoseends will always be at the maximum distance apart, it will be apparentthat the levers will always be set so one will swing forwardly while theother swings rearwardly.

Upon each lever l5 adjacent its lower end is a foot support l3, in whichthe occupant of the seat 2 may place his feet while Working the leversback and forth. These supports are mounted to be adjusted longitudinallyof the levers so that the degree of leverage or power applied may bevaried to suit the rider.

While any suitable adjusting means may be employed, it is preferred thatthe levers be slotted at their opposite longitudinal edges so as toreceive the guide fingers l9 forming a part of the brackets 20 which arecarried by the foot plates 2|.

To these plates 2|, or to one of the brackets 20, is connected a cable23 which passes up to and over a pulley 24 at the topend of the lever 5.Each cable has a loop or ring 24 upon its other end for connecting withone of a series of hooks 25 disposed longitudinally along the shafthousing 5.

It will thus be seen that by drawing upon the cables, the rider of thevehicle may adjust the foot supports along the levers.

The plates of the foot supports carry loops or slings 26, in which theheels of the feet lie and each may have a toe loop 21 to secure the footso that power may be transmitted to the chains upon retraction of thefeet as Well as when the same are forced forwardly.

In Figures 6 and 7 the power mechanism, slightly modified, is shownapplied to a bicycle of .the more commonly used type, in which the frame28 carries a seat 29 at an elevation above the wheels 30 and 3| andpower is applied to the sprocket 32 through the medium of cranks andpedals, which are not shown, having been removed for the application ofthe improved mechanism, and transmitted to the rear Wheel axle by meansof the chain 33 and rear sprocket 34.

Mounted concentrically with the sprocket 32 upon either side of thesame, are sprockets 35 and above these sprockets and spaced therefromare duplicate sprockets 36, which are mounted upon suitable stub axles31 carried by the brace bar 38 of the bicycle frame.

Pivotally mounted upon the lateral arms 39 carried at the rear of theframe 28 where the usual supporting leg for the bicycle is mounted, areforwardly extending levers 40, each of which extends past the sprockets35 and 36 and each has pivotally attached thereto one end of a rod 4|.The sprockets upon each side of the bicycle are connected by the chains42 and each chain has a bearing link like the link l2 of the firstdescribed structure, with which is connected the other end of theadjacent rod 4|. It will thus be apparent that the rider of the bicyclewill actuate the mechanism to drive the bicycle, by alternately imposinghis weight upon the levers 40 as the latter reach and pass the upwardlimit of their movement. The degree of power transmitted may beregulated by advancing or moving the fee-t backward on the levers asnecessary.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that an entirely new andnovel mechanism has been devised for translating oscillating motion intorotary motion and. that the mechanism is such that the maximum of powermay be developed, and with the form of the mechanism illustrated inFigure 1, power may be put into the running of the mechanism which wouldordinarily be employed in raising the feet and. legs, as when peddling abicycle of the types at present in use.

What I claim is:

1. In a bicycle including a frame, a seat and supporting wheels, a pairof pedals, one on each side of said frame, means mounting the pedals onthe frame for movement along predetermined paths parallel to said frame,a pair of sprockets coupled to opposite sides of a Wheel to transmitrotary motion thereto, a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted on theframe and each aligned with one of the first pair of sprockets, chainspassing about and connecting the aligned sprockets on each side of saidwheel, and a connecting rod pivotally connecting each chain with apedal.

2. In a power converting mechanism, a frame, a driven member rotatablycarried by said frame, a pair of transversely spaced sprockets coupledto said driven member to transmit rotary motion thereto, a pair oftransversely spaced sprockets rotatably mounted on the frame, eachaligned with one of the first named sprockets and spaced therefrom,chains passing about and connecting the aligned sprockets, pedalsmounted for movement parallel to the plane of the frame, and connectingrods pivotally connecting each pedal with a chain.

3. In a power converting mechanism, a frame, a driven member rotatablycarried by said frame, a pair of transversely spaced sprockets coupledto said driven member to transmit rotary motion thereto, a pair oftransversely spaced sprockets rotatably mounted on the frame, eachaligned with one of the first named sprockets and spaced therefrom, achain passing about and connecting each pair of aligned sprockets, apedal on each side of the frame, means mounting the pedals on the frameand providing for pedal movement parallel with the frame, and aconnecting rod pivotally connecting each pedal mounting means with achain, the connections with the chains being arranged to move the pedalsout of step with each other.

4. In a power converting mechanism, a frame, a driven member rotatablycarried by said frame, a lever pivotally mounted on each side of theframe and each adapted to receive foot pressure, a pair of transverselyspaced sprockets coupled to said driven member to transmit rotary motionthereto, a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted on said frame, eachaligned with one of the first named sprockets and spaced therefrom,chains passing about and connecting the aligned sprockets, and aconnecting rod pivotally connecting each lever and a, chain, wherebyalternate pressure of the feet on the levers will transmit substantiallycontinuous rotary motion to said driven member.

5. In a bicycle including a frame, a seat and supporting wheels, a leverpivotally mounted on each side of the frame, and adapted to receive footpressure, a pair of sprockets coupled to onposite sides of a Wheel totransmit rotary motion thereto, a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted onthe frame, each aligned with one of the first named sprockets and spacedtherefrom, chains passing about and connecting the aligned sprockets,and a connecting rod pivotally connecting each lever and a chain,whereby alternate pressure on the levers will transmitt substantiallycontinuous motion to the wheel, and movement of the feet along thelevers will change the travel of the feet.

WILLIAM E. HENDRICKS.

